Global HIV Response Under Threat: UN Hearing Calls for Urgent Action
"The AIDS response has been powered by courage and resilience. The world must now embrace the possibility of ending AIDS as a public health threat."
— Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director
New York, NY — Over 200 civil society representatives, people living with HIV, and global partners gathered at the United Nations for a one-day Multi-Stakeholder Hearing on HIV. The event served as a critical preparatory step for the 2026 UN High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, scheduled for 22-23 June 2026, where Member States will negotiate a new Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS.
Key Concerns Raised
Participants voiced serious alarm over funding cuts and attacks on human rights that threaten decades of progress in the global HIV response. The hearing marked the beginning of intensified advocacy and public education, with key activities running from 13-19 May, ahead of the High-Level Meeting.
Voices from the Hearing
President of the General Assembly Annalena Baerbock opened the hearing with a clear message: stakeholder efforts are needed now more than ever.
Florence Riako Anam, Co-Executive Director of the Global Network of People Living with HIV, called for a fundamental shift in approach. She urged a transition from an emergency response model to sustainable systems that can endure long-term.
Ambassador Charles Masole of Botswana underscored the essential partnership between government leadership and civil society advocacy, stating it is crucial to sustaining progress.
Ambassador David Bakradze of Georgia delivered a powerful message on the value of community networks: "Communities are critical infrastructure, not a line item that can be cut."
Background & Next Steps
The hearing brings together the collective expertise of UNAIDS, which unites 11 UN organizations in the global effort to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
The President of the General Assembly's report from this hearing will directly inform Member State consultations on the new Political Declaration, shaping the global response for years to come.
Upcoming Event
2026 UN High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS
Dates: 22-23 June 2026
Location: United Nations, New York